Theater structure



Feb; 121, I928:

. w c. E. FOWLER THEATER STRUCTURE Filed was, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR, Charlaflffbwlet W D BY W I I y r V I A TTORNEYS WITNESSES Feb. 21; 1928,

C. E. FOWLER THEATER STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 23, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIII ZZZ? 6/4 C7zarZesZiJbWli:

IN VEN TOR WITNESSES A TTORNE Y5 Feb. '21, 1928'.

C. E. FOWLER THEATER STRUCTURE Filed Feb, 23, 1924 5 Shqets-Sheet 3 INVE NTOR, Mlarliibnder,

WITNESSES I ATTORNEYS.

V C. E, FOWLER THEATER STRUCTURE Fi1ed Feb.23, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR, Charles 1' F0 WZen.

A TTORNE YS Patented Feb. 21, 1928.

I UNITED STATES PATENT orrlca;

CHARLES EVAN FOWLER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOB TO FOWLER ENGINEERING CORPORATION, OF YORK.

NEW YORK COUNTY, NEW YORK; A CORPORATION OF NEW THEATER STRUCTURE.

Application filed l'ebmary 23, 1924. Serial No. 694,756.

My invention relates to a theater structure and more particularly to a structure embodying balconies or mezzanines set back in cascade or step form.

The present invention is more particularly intended as an improvement on the theater structure forming the subject matter of an application filed by me April 11, 1923, Serial Number 631,426.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a theater structure 1mproved in various particulars especially with respect to the cantilever arrangement of the mezzanines relatively to their supporting elements, to the end that supporting posts beneath the several mezzanines are eliminated, a cantilever relation between the mezzanines and oblique supporting beams is established and whereby a greatly improved structure results.

A further object of the invention is to provide cantilever brackets of suitable arrangement entering into the support of the mezzanines and all inter-related through the medium of their supporting means, whereby the cantilevers represented by the mezzanines and brackets are made interdependent and correlated.

The invention also has for an object to provide a structural assemblage in which a triangular formation is embodied formed by oblique truss beams that connect with the mezzanines, and the vertical and hori zontal elements at the back of .the truss beams.

The invent-ion an assemblage of strut and steady tie means carrying the thrust to the wall columns and bracing The nature of my present invention and its distinguishing features and advantages will clearly appear as the description proceeds.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisspecification, it being understood that the drawings are merely illustrative of examples of the invention.

Figure 1 is a sectional plan view of a theater structure embodying my invention;-

Figure 2 is a vertical section, the mezzanines and a supporting truss beam being shown in side elevation;

furthermore contemplates- Figure 3 is a perspective view of the truss beams, end supporting columns, and the strut and steady tie elements connecting the end columns constituting wall columns and the several truss beams;

Figure 41s a detail sectional plan view of part f the structural elements represented in Flgure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a port1on of the elements shown in Figure 3;

Flgure 6 is a view similar to Figure 3 but llustrating a modification in the supportmg means;

F igure 7 is a diagrammatic view in side elevation showing a further modification in which a plurality of triangular structural features are embodied;

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view in side elevation of a further modification in which the balconies or mezzanines are supported by a front wall and vertical columns with the balconies extending in front of the columns in cantilever form, the columns in turn being supported by the anchor ends of the cantilever beams forming part of the balconies or mezzanines.

Referring-at first to the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 5, the numeral 10 indicates .a suitable foundation; 11, the front wall of the structure; 12, the roof; 13, the proscenium arch; 14, the orchestra floor; 15, the enclosure for the orchestra; 16, the stage; and 17, the screen of a motion picture theater.

In accordance with my invent on I provide within the theater a series of oblique truss beams 18 extending in this form of the invention from the foundation 10 upwardly and forwardly toward the plane of the front wall A of the structure. 1 a

The mezzanines 19 are disposed one above another and set back in cascade or step form. In practice in carrying out my invention, the proscenium arch 13 is given an increased height over what is usual in motion picture theaters, in .order that theremay be a complete visibility of the screen 17 from the uppermost mezzanine which may thus be disposed at a higher elevation than usual with mezzanines and balconies.

In the plan, Figure 1, the uppermost mezzanine 19 shown at the upper right-hand corner of the figure is partly broken away to show the balcony beneath. The balconies are shown with the central aisle 20 and seats 21 are disposed at each side of the central aisle between the same and the planes of the truss beams 18. Also, in the'upper mezzanines are shown stepped aisles or passages 22. It is to be understood that the seating and aisle arrangement does not form part of the present invention. I

The balconies or mezzanines, 1t Wlll be observed, extend in front of the beams 18 in cantilever formation. In the forms of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2, an important feature of the illustrated structures is a cantilever bracket assemblage, there being cantilever brackets 23 disposed beneath the front projecting portion of each balcony or mezzanine and inter-related through the medium of the beams 18 from which said brackets and the mezzanines have rigid support. Extending about the upper ends of the several beams 18 is a strut and steady tie 24 shown best in Figures 3 and 5. The ends of the strut tie 24 connect with. wall columns 25 to thereby carry the thrust to said 001- umns from the beams 18.

In conjunction with the oblique beams 18,

' lowermost mezzanine 119 a triangular struc ture. In this form of the invention the truss beams 118 have support at their lower ends on columns 27. A further triangular formation is provided at the upper ends of the beams 118 by said beams, the front Wall 111, and cross beam 28 at the rear of the adjacent mezzanine 119. Inthis figure the numeral 323 designates cantilever brackets shown diagrammatically and corresponding with the cantilever brackets 23, 123 and 223.

It the form shown in Figure 8 the front wall 211 supports the anchor ends of the cantilever beams 219 forming part of the structure of the mezzanines designated generally by the numeral 319. Vertical columns 29 support the cantilever beams of the lowermost mezzanine and intermediate columns 30 support the cantilever beams of the mezzanines above. The mezzanines extend forwardlyin front of the columns 29 and 30 in cantilever formation.

In the-form shown in Fig. 2 stairs rise as at 31 adjacent the front wall between the same and beams 18 and connect the several landings 32 at the backs of the respective mezzanines.

In the form shown in Figure 6 stairs 131 are provided between the landings 132 at therear of the mezzanine 319. In this form of the invention (Figure 6) the oblique truss beams 218 rigidly support the respective mezzanines 319 and said mezzanines extend forward of said beams in cantilever form. In this form of the invention also interrelated cantilever brackets 123 are provided corresponding with the brackets 23 and disposed beneath the respective mezzanines supporting the same from rigid supports 318. In Figure 6 the lower ends of'the truss beams (318) have support on vertical columns 33 and the lowermost mezzanine 319 is supported by a cantilever bracket 223 while cross beams 34 are employed beneath the rear ends of the mezzanines, said cross beams being rigid with the columns 33 at one end and with higher vertical columns 35 at the opposite ends. The beams 318, columns 35, and cross beams 34 constitute triangular formations as in Figures 2 and 7. Theparts in Figure 6 corresponding with similar parts in Figure 2 bear corresponding reference characters. The numeral 112 indicates the roof which in Figure 6 is in stepped form.

It is to be noted that the mezzanines in the different assemblages illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 6 and 7 have cantilever relation to the described oblique truss beams and to the cantilever brackets, and in Figure 8 the mezzanines have a cantilever character in their relation to the vertical supporting columns. In all the forms the cantilever elements, it will be observed, are inter-related with each other through the medium of the supporting means and made inter-dependent.

The result is that I produce a complete cantilever structure through the medium of brackets on the beams beneath the seating structures and this without the employment of supporting columns or posts beneath the respective seating structures either in front of or behind the beams.

The described construction is particularly adaptable for motion picture theaters in that it overcomes the objectionable feature of the ordinary theater structure which positions too many seats close to the screen and makes it possible to overcome the constant interruptions of people passing in and out, which objectionable features make for impaired eyesight of the patrons of the theaters.

It is to be noted that the terms mezzanines and balconies as employed here are well understood to simply refer to seating structures of different sizes, the smaller seating structures disposed one above the other being generally known as mezzanines and it will be clear therefore that the terms are synonymous generically in merely designating seating structures.

I would state in conclusion that while the illustrated examples constitute practical embodiments of my invention, I do not limit myself strlctly to the exact details herein illustrated, since, manifestly, the same can plurality of seating structures disposed one above another, oblique beams affording support in common to the several seating structures, tie means at the upper ends of the beams connecting up the several beams, and means at the ends of said tie means to take the thrust.

2. In a building structure for theaters, a plurality of seating structures disposed one above another, oblique beams afiording support in common to the'several seating struccolumns at the ends of said tie means whereby the tie means carry the thrust of the beams to said columns.

3. In a building construction for theaters, a series of seating structures disposed one above another and set back successively from the lowermost one upwardly, oblique beams afiording support for said seating structures and coordinating the same in interdependent relation to one another, and columns below the lowermost balcony and affording support for the lower ends of'said beams;

CHARLES EVAN FOWLER; 

